Wills for Doctors and Medical Professionals in the UK

Dr. Sarah Mitchell, a 38-year-old consultant anaesthetist, died unexpectedly from complications during surgery. With an NHS pension worth £180,000 in death benefits, a £320,000 home, and a private practice partnership worth £85,000, her estate totalled over £585,000.

She'd never made a will—or completed her NHS pension nomination form.

Her partner of nine years, with whom she had two children, inherited nothing. Under intestacy rules, her entire estate went to her parents. Her partner faced eviction from their family home and received no pension benefits. The NHS pension lump sum sat in probate for 18 months, eventually being taxed at 45% because it wasn't distributed within two years of death notification.

This isn't hypothetical fear-mongering. Medical professionals face unique estate planning challenges: complex NHS pensions requiring separate beneficiary nominations, multiple income sources from locum work and private practice, higher-than-average assets, and demanding schedules that make solicitor appointments nearly impossible. Yet research shows that only 41% of UK adults have made a will—and medical professionals are no exception, despite having significantly more complex estates.

This guide explains exactly what doctors need to know about wills, how to protect NHS pension benefits, and how to create a legally valid will in 15 minutes without solicitor fees.

Why Doctors Need Wills More Than Most Professionals

Your career protecting others has created financial complexity that intestacy rules simply can't handle.

Consultant doctors earn £109,725 to £145,478 in basic salary, with many earning additional income from Clinical Excellence Awards, private practice, and medico-legal work. GP partners average £163,500 to £168,000 when accounting for full-time equivalent earnings. Even junior doctors starting foundation training earn £38,831 to £44,439, often while buying their first homes.

These earnings create substantial estates—but that's not why you need a will.

The real vulnerability comes from what intestacy rules don't account for: unmarried partners, NHS pension death benefits requiring separate nominations, private practice ownership stakes, and medical indemnity coverage that extends beyond death. If you die without a will, your estate follows a rigid legal framework designed for simple family structures from 1925. It doesn't recognise the 15-year partner who supported your career through training rotations. It doesn't understand that your practice partnership share is worth £250,000 and needs specific succession planning. It can't coordinate with your NHS pension nomination to minimize tax and protect your family.

NHS pension death benefits provide a lump sum of 2x your relevant earnings in the 2015 scheme—potentially £200,000 to £300,000 for consultants. But here's what catches doctors off-guard: these benefits must be distributed within 24 months of death notification, or they face tax charges of up to 45%. Without proper coordination between your will and your NHS pension nomination form, this money can evaporate in tax—or go to people you never intended.

Medical professionals also face higher likelihood of complex family structures. Second marriages after long careers. Unmarried partners chosen deliberately to maintain financial independence. International assets from training fellowships in Australia or North America. These situations demand specific legal planning that intestacy simply cannot provide.

Perhaps most frustratingly, your demanding schedule makes traditional will-making nearly impossible. When you're working 50-hour weeks with on-call duties and trying to maintain some semblance of work-life balance, finding time for multiple daytime solicitor appointments feels unrealistic. Yet this is exactly when you need estate protection most—while building your career, raising young children, and accumulating the assets that make a will essential.

What Happens to Your NHS Pension If You Die Without a Will

Your NHS pension death benefits follow completely different rules than your will. This confuses most doctors—and leaves many families devastated.

If you die while actively contributing to the NHS Pension Scheme, the 2015 scheme provides a lump sum of twice your relevant earnings in the last 12 months (or revalued relevant earnings in one of the last 10 years if higher). For a consultant earning £140,000, that's £280,000. For a GP partner earning £165,000, that's £330,000.

Here's the critical part: this money doesn't automatically go to your estate, and your will doesn't control it.

NHS pension death benefits are distributed according to your beneficiary nomination form—a separate document you complete through the NHSBSA (NHS Business Services Authority) using forms DB2, DB1, or PN1 depending on your circumstances. If you haven't completed a nomination form, the lump sum goes to your legal spouse or civil partner. If you're not married or in a civil partnership, it enters your estate—where it becomes subject to inheritance tax and intestacy rules.

The nomination form gap catches unmarried doctors constantly. Dr. James Chen, a 42-year-old GP partner, lived with his partner Emma for 12 years with three children. He never completed his NHS pension nomination form, assuming his will would handle everything. When he died, his £156,000 pension lump sum went to his estranged mother under intestacy rules—his only living relative. Emma, who had left her career to support his practice, received nothing.

The tax implications compound the problem. Pension lump sums paid to nominated individuals outside your estate usually avoid inheritance tax. But if the lump sum enters your estate because you didn't nominate anyone, it could push your estate above the £325,000 inheritance tax threshold, triggering 40% tax on everything above that amount.

The two-year distribution rule creates additional urgency. Any lump sum paid more than two years after the scheme was first notified of your death will be subject to a tax charge of up to 45%. If your estate is complex and tied up in probate—which is common without a will—this deadline can pass before distribution is even possible.

From April 2027, the rules change further. The government will bring most unused pension funds and death benefits within the value of estates for inheritance tax purposes. Death in service benefits will remain exempt, but the interaction between nominations, wills, and tax planning becomes even more critical.

You need two documents: a completed NHS pension nomination form AND a will. The nomination handles your pension death benefits. The will handles everything else—your home, savings, investments, private practice ownership, personal possessions. Together, they ensure comprehensive protection for your family.

Understanding Intestacy Rules for Medical Professionals

Intestacy rules were written for simple 1925 family structures. They fail catastrophically for modern medical professionals.

If you die without a will in England and Wales, the intestacy rules determine who inherits. Here's the brutal reality: unmarried partners receive nothing. Zero inheritance rights, regardless of relationship duration or children. This legal position was reaffirmed in 2025 despite consultation on cohabitation reform.

The current rules work like this: If you're married or in a civil partnership with children, your spouse receives the first £322,000 (the statutory legacy) plus all personal possessions. Anything above £322,000 is split 50/50 between your spouse and children. If your estate is under £322,000, your children receive nothing until your spouse dies.

For unmarried doctors, it's worse. If you die intestate while unmarried with children, your entire estate passes directly to the children at age 18. Your partner—even if you've lived together for 20 years and they're the parent of your children—inherits nothing. They could lose the family home, receive no share of your private practice, and face immediate financial crisis.

This creates specific problems for medical professionals:

Junior doctors with first homes and unmarried partners: You've bought a £280,000 home using a medical professional mortgage scheme. You die unexpectedly. Your partner of eight years, who shares the mortgage, inherits nothing. Under intestacy, your half of the property goes to your children (if you have any) or your parents. Your partner may need to buy out your family's share or sell—while grieving and possibly caring for young children alone.

Consultants with second families: You divorced in your 30s, remarried in your 40s. Your current wife and two young children are your priority. But without a will, intestacy gives your current spouse the £322,000 statutory legacy plus 50% of the remainder. That's fair—except it means your adult children from your first marriage receive 50% immediately, potentially forcing the sale of your family home to pay them out.

Doctors with private practice stakes: You own 30% of a private practice worth £500,000 total—your stake is £150,000. This is a business asset requiring careful succession planning. Under intestacy, your practice ownership doesn't transfer smoothly. Your partners may need court intervention to resolve ownership. The uncertainty can destroy practice value and your colleagues' livelihoods.

Locum doctors with complex income structures: You operate as a limited company with multiple revenue streams. You have business bank accounts, equipment, professional indemnity policies, and contract assets. Intestacy provides no guidance on business succession. Your executor—probably your parents who don't understand medical contracting—must navigate complex tax implications while your business value evaporates.

The time cost amplifies these problems. Intestacy requires a grant of letters of administration, which is slower and more expensive than probate with a will. For doctors' complex estates, letters of administration can take 12 to 18 months versus 4 to 6 months with a will. During this time, bank accounts are frozen, properties can't be sold, and families struggle financially.

Here's how a will changes everything:

Situation	With Will	Without Will (Intestacy)
Unmarried partner with children	Partner can inherit everything	Partner gets nothing; children inherit
Married with children, £500k estate	Spouse gets estate per your wishes	Spouse gets £322k + 50% remainder; children get 50% remainder immediately
Private practice partnership	Business succession plan activated	Partnership frozen; may need court intervention
NHS pension (no nomination)	Will directs estate assets only	Pension goes to legal spouse or estate (taxed at 40%)

Special Considerations for Consultants and Senior Doctors

Your financial complexity demands sophisticated estate planning—but that doesn't mean you need a £1,200 solicitor.

Consultants earn an average of 27% additional income on top of basic salary from Clinical Excellence Awards, private practice, medico-legal work, and teaching. A consultant with £140,000 basic salary plus £37,800 in additional earnings has a total income of £177,800. Over a career, this creates substantial wealth: often £500,000+ homes, private practice ownership stakes, investment properties, and NHS pension pots worth hundreds of thousands.

Dr. Amelia Okonkwo, a 52-year-old consultant cardiologist, earned £178,000 annually including Clinical Excellence Awards. She owned 40% of a private cardiology practice worth £420,000 (her stake: £168,000), had £280,000 in investment properties, and an NHS pension. Her total estate exceeded £1.1 million.

Without a will, her unmarried partner of 15 years received nothing. Her estranged sister inherited everything under intestacy—and immediately demanded the private practice be liquidated to access cash. The practice had to sell emergency equipment and patient lists at fire-sale prices, destroying value and her colleagues' livelihoods. Her partner lost their shared home and received no compensation for 15 years of supporting her career.

Private practice ownership requires specific succession planning. Your partnership share, equipment, patient lists, goodwill, and consultation rooms all have value—often £150,000 to £400,000 depending on practice size and specialty. Your partnership agreement likely includes buy-sell provisions, but these must coordinate with your will. Without clear succession instructions, your death can trigger forced liquidation clauses that benefit no one.

Medical defence organisation coverage adds another layer. MDU, MPS, and MDDUS all provide occurrence-based indemnity that extends beyond your death. MDDUS explicitly states "your estate will be supported after your death" for incidents that occurred during your membership. This protects your estate from historical negligence claims that might arise years later.

But your executor needs to know this coverage exists. Your will should reference your medical defence organisation membership and ensure your executor has access to membership details. Without this, your estate could face undefended claims that your indemnity would have covered.

Inheritance tax becomes likely for senior doctors. Estates over £325,000 are subject to 40% inheritance tax on everything above that threshold. You may also qualify for the residence nil-rate band (£175,000) if you leave your main home to direct descendants—giving you a total £500,000 tax-free allowance. Married couples can combine allowances up to £1 million.

Proper will planning can minimize tax through spouse exemptions, charitable gifts, and strategic use of nil-rate bands. But you don't need complex trust structures for this—you need clear instructions in a legally valid will that coordinates with your NHS pension nominations and private practice succession agreements.

Multiple property ownership is common among senior doctors. You might own an investment property in your training city, a holiday home in the countryside, and your main residence. Each property needs clear succession instructions to avoid intestacy complexity and capital gains tax surprises for your beneficiaries.

International assets require special attention. If you trained in Canada, worked locum shifts in Australia, or completed fellowships in the United States, you might have pension pots, property, or investments in other countries. Your UK will should acknowledge these assets exist, though you may need separate wills in each jurisdiction—something a specialist solicitor can advise on for complex estates.

Estate Planning for Junior Doctors and Trainees

"I'm only an F2—I don't have enough to need a will yet."

You're wrong. And this assumption leaves your partner and family dangerously exposed.

Foundation doctors earn £38,831 to £44,439 basic salary. Specialty trainees earn £52,656 to £73,992. It's true you're not wealthy—yet. You're probably focused on student loan repayments (which die with you, thankfully) and covering the cost of professional exams and medical indemnity.

But here's what you do have: a mortgage. Life insurance or death-in-service benefits. An unmarried partner who shares your home. Possibly young children or plans to start a family soon. An NHS pension that already includes death benefits. These assets and relationships require protection.

The mortgage protection gap catches junior doctors constantly. You've bought your first home—maybe a £250,000 property in a teaching hospital city, using a specialist medical mortgage or keyworker scheme. You split the mortgage with your partner of six years. You die in a car accident on the way home from a night shift.

Without a will, your half of the property goes to your parents under intestacy (assuming you're unmarried with no children). Your partner—who shares the mortgage and has lived there for years—suddenly doesn't own half the home. They may need to buy out your parents' share immediately or sell the property. While grieving. While possibly caring for children alone. While trying to work.

A will solves this. You specify that your partner inherits your share of the property. They can stay in the home. The mortgage protection insurance pays off your portion. They have stability during an impossible time.

Frequent relocations make wills even more important for junior doctors. Foundation and specialty training involve moving every 6 to 12 months—different hospitals, different cities, different rental agreements. This instability means your partner and children need clear legal protection if something happens to you. A will provides certainty: who becomes guardian of your children, who handles your affairs, where your assets go. It's a stable legal foundation during transient training years.

Young children need guardian appointments. If you die without a will, intestacy doesn't appoint guardians for your minor children. The courts decide based on "the best interests of the child"—which might not align with your wishes. You might want your sister to raise your daughter, but the court might choose your parents or your partner's parents. Your will is the only way to legally nominate guardians.

Life insurance policies and death-in-service benefits are more common than you think. Many NHS trusts provide death-in-service coverage of 1-2x salary. You might also have private life insurance from medical school or a policy your parents took out. Without a will, these benefits go through intestacy rather than to your chosen beneficiaries. A will ensures this money goes directly to your partner or children, not to distant relatives through intestacy rules.

The minimal cost makes sense even on a junior doctor salary. Traditional solicitors charge £650 to £1,200 for will creation. That's prohibitively expensive when you're repaying student loans and building your career. But online services like WUHLD cost £49.99—less than one shift's worth of locum pay. For the price of dinner out, you protect your partner and children legally.

Research shows the gap: while specific data on junior doctors is limited, studies suggest that medical professionals' will-making rates mirror the general population, where only about 41% of adults have wills. For junior doctors with mortgages and partners, this percentage is likely even lower—because they assume they're too young or don't have enough assets to need one.

You have enough to lose. More importantly, your partner and children have enough to lose. Make a will now, while it's simple and straightforward. You can update it as your circumstances change—when you get married, have more children, buy a bigger home, or achieve consultant status.

Wills for GPs and Practice Partners

Your practice partnership is probably worth £150,000 to £400,000. Without a will, this asset becomes a legal nightmare that can destroy your colleagues' livelihoods.

GP practices operate as partnerships, meaning each partner owns a share of the business—including premises (sometimes), equipment, patient lists, goodwill, and contractual NHS income. GP partners earn an average of £163,500 to £168,000 when accounting for full-time equivalent work, significantly higher than salaried GPs who earn around £108,300.

This income reflects genuine business ownership with real asset value. Your partnership stake isn't just theoretical—it's a tangible asset that transfers on death according to your partnership agreement and will.

Here's where GPs frequently get caught: your partnership agreement probably includes buy-sell provisions or succession clauses dictating what happens to your share if you die. But these provisions need to coordinate with your will. If your partnership agreement says your share must be sold to remaining partners within 12 months, but your will says it passes to your spouse, you've created a legal conflict that requires expensive court intervention to resolve.

The solution: ensure your will acknowledges your partnership share and aligns with your partnership agreement. Your will might specify: "I direct my executor to follow the buy-sell provisions in my practice partnership agreement dated [date] and distribute the proceeds according to the terms of this will." This gives your executor clear instructions and prevents conflicts.

Private patient lists add complexity for mixed NHS/private GPs. Your NHS patient list belongs to the practice and can't be personally bequeathed. But your private patient list—built through years of reputation and referrals—can be transferred or sold. This list might be worth £50,000 to £150,000 depending on specialty and patient volume. Your will should address this asset specifically.

Surgery premises ownership affects some GP partnerships. If your practice owns the building where you work, your share of the property is a real estate asset separate from your family home. This property might be worth £500,000 to £2 million depending on location, with your share proportional to your partnership percentage. Without a will, your property share enters intestacy—creating uncertainty for remaining partners who use the building daily.

Locum income complexity affects GPs who supplement partnership income with locum work. Many GPs operate as limited companies or self-employed entities for locum income, creating different tax implications for your estate. Your will needs to address these business structures separately from your partnership share to ensure efficient estate administration.

Multiple income sources require careful estate planning. As a GP partner, you likely have: PAYE income from NHS partnership profits, private patient fee income, locum income through a limited company or self-employment, teaching income from supervising registrars or medical students, and possibly clinical commissioning or leadership roles. Each income source creates different assets and tax implications your will must address.

Sudden incapacity risks are higher for self-employed GPs than salaried employees. If you're employed and become incapacitated, you continue receiving sick pay. If you're a practice partner and can't work, your partnership income stops immediately. While a will doesn't protect against incapacity (that requires a Lasting Power of Attorney), it should coordinate with income protection insurance and partnership agreements to ensure smooth succession if you die while incapacitated.

Practice continuity matters to your colleagues. Without clear succession planning in your will, remaining partners may struggle to buy out your share, find a replacement, or maintain practice operations. This uncertainty damages practice value, affects patient care, and creates financial stress for your partners—many of whom are your friends and have worked alongside you for years.

Here's how a will protects your practice assets:

GP Scenario	What's at Risk Without a Will	How Will Protects It
Practice partnership (£200k share)	Frozen assets; partners can't buy out share cleanly	Clear valuation method and buyout terms aligned with partnership agreement
Private patient list (£80k value)	List dies with you; can't be transferred or sold	Executor can sell or transfer to agreed buyer
Surgery premises ownership	Surviving partners lose building control; forced sale possible	Ensures share transfers to chosen beneficiary or sold per partnership terms
Locum limited company	Tax complications for estate; company value trapped	Clear succession; director powers transfer; minimizes tax

Medical Indemnity and Estate Protection

Your MDU, MPS, or MDDUS membership continues to protect your estate after you die—but only if your executor knows how to access it.

All three major medical defence organisations—Medical Defence Union (MDU), Medical Protection Society (MPS), and Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS)—provide occurrence-based indemnity coverage. This means you're covered for incidents that occurred while you were a member, regardless of when a claim is actually made.

The critical phrase from MDDUS: "Your estate will be supported after your death." This applies to all three organisations. If a negligence claim arises years after you die, relating to treatment you provided while alive and covered, your medical defence organisation will defend your estate at no cost to your family.

Why this matters: medical negligence claims can be filed up to three years after discovery under the Limitation Act 1980. A patient might not realize harm occurred until years after your death. Without run-off coverage protecting your estate, your family could face six-figure legal defence costs and potential compensation awards—destroying your estate and leaving nothing for your intended beneficiaries.

Dr. Peter Walsh died in 2023. In 2025, a negligence claim was filed relating to a surgery he performed in 2022. Because he had a will that referenced his MDU membership, his executor immediately engaged with MDU—which confirmed coverage continued. MDU defended the claim successfully at no cost to his family. His estate remained intact, and his children inherited as he intended.

Without a will, this process becomes complicated. Letters of administration under intestacy take 12 to 18 months. During this delay, claim notification deadlines might pass, or your estate administrator might not know to contact your medical defence organisation. Claims could proceed to default judgment because no one is defending them.

Your will should specifically reference your medical indemnity coverage. A simple clause suffices: "My executor should be aware I maintain professional indemnity coverage with [MDU/MPS/MDDUS] membership number [number]. My executor should contact this organisation immediately upon my death to ensure continuation of coverage for any claims relating to my medical practice."

This instruction ensures your executor—who might be your spouse or sibling with no medical background—knows this coverage exists and how to access it. It protects your estate from undefended claims that could arise years after your death.

Medical defence organisations cannot provide this information automatically. They don't know you've died unless someone tells them. Your executor might not know you had this coverage unless your will mentions it. This gap leaves estates vulnerable unnecessarily.

Store your medical defence organisation membership documents with your will. Include your membership number, policy details, and emergency contact numbers. Tell your executor where these documents are located. These simple steps ensure your estate receives the protection you paid for throughout your career.

How to Make a Will as a Doctor (No Solicitor Required)

You don't have time for three solicitor appointments. You don't want to pay £800 for a document that takes 15 minutes to create online.

Traditional solicitor-based will creation fails doctors on both counts. Solicitors charge £650 to £1,200 for straightforward wills. They require multiple daytime appointments—initial consultation, draft review, final signing—none of which fit your on-call schedule. They often don't understand medical-specific issues like NHS pension nominations, medical indemnity coverage, or private practice succession.

WUHLD solves all three problems: 15 minutes online, £49.99 one-time payment, designed for modern professionals.

Here's what WUHLD covers for doctors' estate planning needs:

Asset distribution: Specify who inherits your home, practice partnership share, equipment, private patient lists, savings, investments, and personal possessions. You can name multiple beneficiaries and split assets any way you choose—not limited by intestacy rules.

Guardian appointments: Choose who raises your children if you die. This is legally binding and prevents court intervention. You can name first-choice guardians and backup guardians if your first choice is unable or unwilling.

Executor selection: Choose someone who understands your professional complexity—maybe a colleague, financially literate friend, or family member with business experience. Avoid choosing parents as executors if you're a 45-year-old consultant; they may not have the capacity or expertise.

Specific gifts: Leave specific items to chosen people. Many doctors leave medical libraries to junior colleagues, specialist equipment to hospitals where they trained, or financial gifts to medical charities.

Residuary estate: After specific gifts, direct "everything else" (the residuary estate) to your chosen beneficiaries. This ensures nothing falls through gaps.

What WUHLD includes with your £49.99 payment:

Legally binding will meeting all UK legal requirements
12-page Testator Guide explaining how to execute your will properly
Witness Guide to give to your witnesses
Complete Asset Inventory document to help track your estate

When you need a solicitor instead of WUHLD:

International assets requiring separate wills in multiple jurisdictions
Trusts for disabled dependants with complex care needs
Business structures with multiple share classes requiring sophisticated tax planning
Estates over £2 million with complex inheritance tax minimization strategies
Agricultural property relief or business property relief complexity

For most doctors—including GPs with practice partnerships, consultants with private work, and junior doctors with mortgages—WUHLD provides everything you need.

Critical reminder: Creating a will through WUHLD does NOT complete your NHS pension nomination. You must complete NHS pension beneficiary forms separately through NHSBSA. Your will handles your estate assets. Your pension nomination handles pension death benefits. Both documents are required for comprehensive protection.

Review your will every 2 to 3 years or after major life events: marriage (which automatically revokes previous wills), children, divorce, significant asset changes, partnership changes, or property purchases.

Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Asset inventory (5 minutes): List your assets—main residence, practice partnership share, surgery premises (if applicable), NHS pension, savings accounts, investments, life insurance policies, medical equipment, vehicles, valuable personal possessions. Don't worry about exact values; estimates are fine.

2. Beneficiary decisions (5 minutes): Decide who inherits what. For unmarried partners, you must explicitly include them—intestacy won't. Consider: Does your partner inherit everything? Do you want to split assets between partner and children? Are there specific items for specific people?

3. Guardian selection (2 minutes): If you have children under 18, choose guardians carefully. Consider: Who shares your values? Who has capacity to raise children? Who do your children know and trust? Where would they live? Name first-choice guardians and backups.

4. Executor appointment (3 minutes): Select executors who are financially literate and understand medical practice complexity. Avoid choosing only one executor (they might predecease you or be unable to serve). Two executors provide redundancy. Executors can be beneficiaries.

5. Review and sign: Preview your complete will free before paying. Verify all names, addresses, and asset descriptions are correct. Pay £49.99. Print your will. Sign it in front of two independent witnesses who are not beneficiaries and not married to beneficiaries. Both witnesses must watch you sign, then sign themselves.

Your will is now legally valid and can be used immediately upon your death.

Coordinating Your Will with NHS Pension Nominations

You need two documents working together: a will covering your estate, and NHS pension nominations covering death benefits.

The mistake doctors make repeatedly: assuming your will controls everything. It doesn't. NHS pension death benefits are distributed according to nomination forms, not your will or intestacy rules. If you haven't completed nomination forms, the lump sum defaults to your legal spouse or civil partner. If you're unmarried, it enters your estate—where it becomes subject to inheritance tax and intestacy.

How to complete NHS pension nominations:

Access the forms: Log into the NHSBSA member hub or request forms from your employer. You need Form DB2 if your scheme membership started on or after 1 April 2008. You need Form PN1 to nominate an unmarried partner for survivor pension benefits.

Nominate beneficiaries: You can nominate individuals (spouse, partner, children, friends, anyone) or organisations (charities). You can split the lump sum between multiple beneficiaries—either equally or in specific percentages you specify.

Keep forms updated: Nominations don't automatically update when circumstances change. If you get married, divorced, or your partner changes, you must submit a new nomination form. Previous nominations are replaced entirely by new forms.

Store with your will: Keep a copy of your completed nomination forms with your will so your executor knows they exist. Tell your executor where both documents are located.

Tax efficiency coordination between your will and pension nominations:

Spouse/civil partner nomination: Usually inheritance tax-free under spouse exemption. However, from April 2027, unused pension funds will be subject to inheritance tax—though death in service benefits remain exempt.

Nominations to others: May be taxable depending on total estate size. If your estate exceeds £325,000 (or £500,000 with residence nil-rate band), pension lump sums paid into the estate face 40% inheritance tax.

Strategic coordination: For large estates, consider nominating pension benefits to individuals rather than letting them enter your estate. Benefits paid directly to nominees typically avoid inheritance tax (though this changes partially in April 2027). Your will can then distribute other assets to ensure everyone you care about is protected.

Review triggers for both documents:

Marriage (automatically revokes previous wills; update pension nomination)
Divorce (update both will and nomination immediately)
Children born (update both documents)
Partner change (especially critical for pension nominations)
Significant asset changes (update will)
Every 2-3 years as routine practice

Action checklist for comprehensive protection:

Complete NHS pension nomination form through NHSBSA (Forms DB2 and PN1)
Create will covering non-pension assets (property, practice partnership, savings, investments, personal possessions)
Ensure beneficiaries align between will and pension—unless tax planning requires different approach
Store both documents securely together in fireproof location
Tell executor and family where documents are located
Review both documents every 2-3 years or after major life events
Store medical defence organisation membership details with will and pension documents

Common Mistakes Doctors Make with Estate Planning

You're brilliant at medical decision-making. Estate planning is different—and doctors make predictable mistakes.

Mistake 1: Assuming NHS pension is "part of estate"

It's not. Your NHS pension death benefits require separate beneficiary nominations through NHSBSA. Many doctors create wills believing this covers everything, then die with no pension nomination—leaving partners and children with nothing while the lump sum goes to estranged family members through default rules.

Mistake 2: Not protecting unmarried partners

Unmarried partners receive nothing under intestacy rules—regardless of relationship duration or children. This hasn't changed despite 2025 consultation on cohabitation reform. If you're unmarried, you MUST explicitly include your partner in your will and pension nominations, or they inherit nothing.

Mistake 3: Forgetting to value private practice/partnership

Your practice partnership or private work might be worth £100,000 to £500,000. This isn't theoretical—it's a real asset requiring specific succession planning. Many doctors focus on their home and forget their practice stake, leaving executors and remaining partners in legal limbo.

Mistake 4: Outdated executors

You named your parents as executors when you made your first will at 28. You're now 45, a consultant, with complex finances and a private practice. Your 72-year-old parents don't have the financial literacy or capacity to administer your £800,000 estate. Choose executors who match your current life stage and financial complexity.

Mistake 5: No guardian appointments

Intestacy doesn't appoint guardians for minor children. Courts decide "in the best interests of the child"—which might not align with your wishes. Only a will can legally nominate guardians. Without this, your children might be raised by relatives you wouldn't choose, or split between different family members.

Mistake 6: Ignoring medical defence coverage

Your MDU, MPS, or MDDUS membership provides occurrence-based coverage that protects your estate from claims arising after death. But your executor won't know to contact them unless your will references this coverage. Without notification, claims could proceed to default judgment—destroying estate value unnecessarily.

Mistake 7: "I'll do it later" paralysis

Your demanding schedule makes will-making feel like something for "next month" perpetually. You've been meaning to do it for three years. Meanwhile, you're making life-or-death decisions for patients daily while your own family has no legal protection. Online will creation takes 15 minutes. You have 15 minutes between shifts this week.

Mistake 8: DIY will errors

Dr. Michael Adeyemi used a free online template in 2018. It looked legitimate. But it wasn't properly witnessed—one witness was a beneficiary, which disqualified them under the Wills Act 1837 and invalidated their gift. When he died in 2024, the ambiguity around witness validity meant the entire will was challenged. His £640,000 estate went through intestacy, leaving his partner of 20 years with nothing. A properly executed will through WUHLD would have cost £49.99 and avoided this entirely.

Avoiding these mistakes requires two actions: create a legally valid will, and complete NHS pension nominations. Together, these documents provide comprehensive protection for your family and estate—regardless of how complex your medical career becomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need a solicitor to make a will as a doctor?

A: No. Most doctors don't need solicitors for will creation. WUHLD's online service (£49.99, 15 minutes) handles estates with professional income, property, NHS pensions, and even private practice shares. You only need a solicitor for: international assets requiring multiple wills, disabled dependants needing complex trusts, estates over £2 million with sophisticated tax planning, or business structures with multiple share classes. For straightforward doctor estates—even with six-figure values—online services provide everything you need.

Q: What happens to my private practice if I die without a will?

A: Without a will, your private practice partnership share enters intestacy. Your partnership agreement may have buyback clauses, but without will-directed succession, remaining partners may need court intervention to resolve ownership. Practice value can evaporate during this uncertainty. Your will should explicitly address partnership shares and coordinate with your partnership agreement to ensure smooth succession.

Q: Can my unmarried partner inherit my NHS pension?

A: Unmarried partners can inherit NHS pension death benefits only if you explicitly nominate them on NHS pension beneficiary forms (Form DB2 and Form PN1) through NHSBSA. Without nomination, benefits go to legal spouses/civil partners or into your estate. Your will does NOT control NHS pension benefits—you must complete separate nomination forms. This is the single most important action for unmarried doctors.

Q: How much inheritance tax will my estate pay as a doctor?

A: Estates pay 40% inheritance tax on value above £325,000 (nil-rate band). You may also qualify for residence nil-rate band (£175,000 additional) if leaving your main residence to direct descendants—total £500,000 tax-free. Married couples can combine allowances for up to £1 million tax-free. From April 2027, unused pension funds will also be subject to inheritance tax. For tax planning specific to your estate size, consult a qualified tax advisor.

Q: How often should I update my will as my career progresses?

A: Review your will every 2-3 years or after major life events. Marriage automatically revokes previous wills—you need a new will immediately. Update after: children, divorce, significant asset changes (buying practice share, investment property), partnership changes, or moving to consultant level with substantially higher income. Also update your NHS pension nominations at the same time to ensure coordination.

Q: What happens to my medical indemnity coverage if I die?

A: Your MDU, MPS, or MDDUS membership provides occurrence-based coverage that continues protecting your estate after death. Claims arising from incidents during your membership are defended at no cost to your family—even if claims are filed years after you die. However, your executor must know this coverage exists and contact your medical defence organisation. Include this information in your will to ensure protection activates.

Protect Your Career's Legacy in 15 Minutes

You've spent years protecting others. You've made countless split-second decisions in operating theatres, emergency departments, and consulting rooms—decisions that saved lives and supported families through their darkest moments.

Key takeaways:

Doctors face unique estate complexity that intestacy rules fail to address—NHS pensions, private practice stakes, unmarried partners, and high-value estates require specific protection your career has earned
NHS pension death benefits need separate nominations through NHSBSA—your will doesn't control these benefits; complete Forms DB2 and PN1 and coordinate with your will for comprehensive protection
Unmarried partners get nothing under intestacy regardless of relationship duration or children—only explicit inclusion in your will and pension nominations protects them legally
Medical indemnity coverage extends beyond death through MDU, MPS, or MDDUS—but only if your executor knows about it; reference your membership in your will for estate claim protection
Time and cost shouldn't block protection—traditional solicitors charge £650-£1,200 and require multiple appointments; WUHLD provides legally valid wills in 15 minutes for £49.99

The one decision that protects your own family takes just 15 minutes and costs less than a medical textbook. The question isn't whether you need a will—it's why you'd risk your family's future when the solution is this simple.

Create your legally valid will in 15 minutes for just £49.99—no solicitor appointments, no hidden fees, no subscriptions. WUHLD's online will service is designed for professionals like you: straightforward estate planning that protects your NHS pension beneficiaries, private practice assets, and family without complexity.

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WUHLD makes it simple to create a legally valid will online in just 15 minutes. Our guided process ensures your wishes are properly documented and your loved ones are protected.

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Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information about UK will requirements for medical professionals and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your individual situation, please consult a qualified solicitor. WUHLD's online will service is suitable for straightforward UK estates; complex situations may require professional legal advice.

NHS Pension Disclaimer: NHS pension death benefits are governed by separate scheme rules and require completion of beneficiary nomination forms through NHSBSA. Creating a will does not automatically update your NHS pension nominations. Always complete both documents to ensure comprehensive estate protection.

Tax Disclaimer: Tax rules, including inheritance tax and pension taxation, are subject to change. This guidance reflects UK law as of October 2025. For tax advice specific to your estate, consult a qualified tax advisor or financial planner.

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